Non-Tacky Adhesive Fastening System

Abstract

Non-tacky adhesive fastening systems are disclosed, which systems include non-tacky patterned adhesive systems and non-tacky three-dimensional adhesive systems. In a non-tacky adhesive fastening system, an engaging member including a non-tacky adherent is engageable with a receiving member including a non-tacky adherend. In a non-tacky patterned adhesive system, at least one of the engaging member and receiving member has the adherent / adherend disposed thereon in a patterned fashion. In a non-tacky three-dimensional adhesive system, at least one of the engaging member and receiving member includes a plurality of projections, thereby forming at least one three-dimensional adhesive surface. The non-tacky adhesive fastening systems exhibit advantageous peel characteristics and exhibit an increased resistance to contamination. The non-tacky adhesive fastening systems can be included in absorbent articles such as diapers and other consumer goods.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 856,100, filed Nov. 2, 2006, the substance of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to consumer goods, such as absorbent articles, and fastening systems used therewith and, more specifically, to non-tacky adhesive fastening systems having a non-tacky adherent or a non-tacky adherend in a patterned or three-dimensional configuration that may be peeled apart with a low force. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Fastening systems are widely used in a variety of applications where closure of components is required. Certain fastening systems are refastenable in that they are capable of multiple openings and closures. Items such as diapers and containers storing foodstuff or other consumer goods are commonly equipped with a fastening system and, typically, a refastenable fastening system. Such fast...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] By employing various types of non-tacky adhesive fastening techniques either alone or in combination with other, conventional fastening techniques in connection with the articles described herein, the articles offer improved versatility, fit, and refastening performance over those previously known in the art. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the description below.

Problems solved by technology

While mechanical and adhesive fastening systems provide certain consumer benefits, each system also has significant drawbacks.

Fasteners in these systems may have a tendency to attach to undesired surfaces such as clothing, carpet, or the wearer.

Furthermore, hooks are generally rigid and, if used in products which are placed in close contact to a wearer's skin, may cause skin irritation.

Fasteners in these systems also may become damaged during the high-speed formation process required for the commercially viable manufacture of consumer goods, such as diapers.

For example, hooks tend to get damaged during manufacture, and other mechanical-type fasteners such as buttons, tab and slots, or the like can also become damaged, torn, or otherwise adversely affected by high speed handling.

Another problem associated with mechanical fasteners is that they may not be sufficiently durable for use in consumer goods.

However, hook and loop fastening systems may prove inadequate for the peel force demands of a pant-type diaper.

If peel forces are too low, a child may be able to remove the diaper when such removal is undesired.

Another potential drawback of conventional mechanical fasteners, particularly in pant-type diapers, is that such fasteners may need to be located in an area of the diaper without stretch properties.

This may create a design limitation if the mechanical fastener is to be located in an area exhibiting stretch properties such as the side panels of a pant-type diaper.

The compromise made is typically to limit the size of the hook and loop fastening area, which results in a lack of versatility of the product and can diminish the desired fastening strength of the side panels of the article.

Like mechanical fastening systems, adhesive fastening systems also have drawbacks.

One such drawback of an adhesive fastening system includes the use of a traditional adhesive that sticks to surfaces indiscriminately.

Such indiscriminate adhesive fastening systems disfavored in consumer products such as diapers where adhesion of the fastener to skin, hair, or clothing is undesirable.

Another drawback of adhesive fastening systems is that the system may exhibit “lock-up” after a period of time in an engaged configuration.

In many consumer goods with an adhesive fastening system, lock-up is a significant problem because the consumer good is manufactured with the fastening system already engaged (i.e., pre-engaged).

During the manufacture, transport, and storage of pant-type diapers, a pre-engaged adhesive may be engaged for several weeks or months and may experience elevated pressure and temperature.

The diaper would be considered undesirable because unfastening the pre-engaged system would prevent further refastenability of the diaper.

Consumer testing has shown that fastening systems exhibiting a peel force of greater than about 4.7 N / cm (i.e., about 12 N / inch), as measured by a T-Peel test, are considered difficult to separate.

A further drawback of pre-engaged adhesive fastening systems is that, if the system does not exhibit lock-up or require an excessive separation force, the system may exhibit poor refastenability.

Still further, adhesive fastening systems are susceptible to contaminants that can substantially reduce the adhesive strength of the adherent / adherend.

While the problems associated with mechanical and adhesive fastening systems have been described thus far with respect to pant-type diapers, the problems are equally applicable to similar fastening systems on other consumer goods and commercial products.

For instance, non-tacky adhesive fastening systems do not have mechanical structures that can be skin-irritating, fragile, or both.

Nor do these systems adhere indiscriminately to any surface.

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